Short, fat and unassuming, I have extended the boundaries of indifferent posting and spurious comment within the interweb community to previously unimagined levels of banality. This has been achieved without fear of retribution or negative comment so if you're interested in thought patterns that tumble around the inside of my head like old underpants in a washing machine then this is for you.

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Gary Amos

Sunday, 30 December 2012

I was browsing through the blogs earlier today when I came across an old man who wouldn't say his prayers. Er, sorry, mixed up with a nursery rhyme! I came across a blogger who was appealing for those of us with dark backgrounds to our blogs to opt for black on white text because he was getting on in years and found the more exotic colour schemes taxing. My immediate reaction was one of 'bugger off, it's my blog', but on second thoughts I wondered how people who have genuine sight problems do manage with some of the stranger blog designs. I had a word with HRH who's a social worker (mental health, so seemed appropriate) and had a look on the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) site for a few ideas and you can now evaluate the result.

There are surprisingly few templates which fit the bill and aren't too boring, but I opted for this look with a large font and a pretty open text. The hard fact is that these blog templates aren't particularly consumer orientated. However, I've changed the last couple of entries to conform to the new look and I'd like your opinion.

I might be insensitive, but I'm not convinced visually impaired people are likely to flock to blogs about painting figures and wargaming, but that's not to say some do and I think we owe it to them to try to make it more user friendly for them. On the other hand, if you're a silly old sod like me and you're having difficulty reading the blogs, delete the porn sites and up the zoom on the page in question.

So there you go. I've added a few piccies salvaged from the depths of the memory to brighten up this entry for those who really can't read the text . . . .

And a Happy New Year to you all, wishing you a better than average 2013.

Friday, 21 December 2012

Well, three months have shot past
like thirteen weeks passing very quickly.
This isn’t an end of the year address, but it will contain my usual quota
of perspicacity and wisdom. The real world invaded my little bailiwick of
delusion too frequently for comfort, which can be tedious, but I managed to
avoid total immersion in the humdrum and get some painting and basing (ugh!)
done. Anyway, as the world didn’t actually end today (yet?)
I thought I might as well crack on with this.

I also thought I’d post a couple
of photos of bases from Warner’s Additional which I found skulking on a USB
stick. These are all from the Perry range:

The plod to get some 15mm
Napoleonics finished and to progress the 15mm ACW stuff has been challenging,
mostly because it only involved painting figures in a bit of a rush to top up
existing units. All my own fault because I decided to change the figures
scale, but couldn’t face increasing the size of the original units. Some of
this was achieved by amalgamating battalions, but there was still a good deal
of painting to be done. So, I’ve
included a few shots below; a couple for interest and one to give a bit of a
review. First two are French dragoons of the 14th (could be 17th!)
regiment. These figures are so old they’re from the original Battle Honours
range when Battle Honours really was Battle Honours back in about ‘87. The poor
lads haven’t been in production for a while, which I think is a shame because
the new generation figure isn’t a patch on this one for movement and a dynamic
pose. I’ve put up two to show the original horses (not that different from the
new AB sculpts). They’re done in the usual block painting and wash finish, but
with a bit of inking in to match with the rest of the original unit (my new
organisation standardises on 4 figure
squadrons so, where possible, all the extant cavalry regiments have to be
beefed up). That’s a way of proving that
I used this method years ago! ;O)

The next couple of figures are
just to show examples of the Warmodelling range. They’re stocked in the UK by Mike
Oliver’s Warmodelling UK (http://www.warmodelling.co.uk/)
. I ordered several packs of this range to increase the size of the French
battalions and I’ve got mixed feelings about them. Overall the quality is fine
and the poses are pretty good, but, to be honest, I don’t rate the mounted
figures and, although the infantry and artillery figures are generally good,
you do come across some oddities. Also,
the metal used is particularly hard, which makes cleaning up the castings a bit
of a pain. However, they’re pretty good value despite this. I’d rate them as
better than most of the Old Glory range, but not as good as battle Honours, AB
or Blue Moon. Haven’t counted in Minifigs because they’re a totally different
style and I don’t think they mix well with the other ranges. That’s not a
reflection on their social skills, just the difference in sculpting. I’ve included
a photo of two mounted officers to give you a good idea of the figures and the
standard of the horses.

Now to the 28’s. The first two
photos are of figures from the first batch of Sherbourne’s, possibly the most
colourful American unit of the war and probably in just about everyone’s
collection. They’re from the original Foundry range, sculpted by the Perry
twins, and certainly one of Foundry’s better ranges. Unsurprisingly, given
their pedigree, they mix well with the Perry Miniatures AWI figures and in some cases I think they’re
better sculpts. However, I think we’re in for another pulse of energy into this
period when the Perry Plastic British infantry are released which will match
both ranges. Prediction: they’ll be launched at or in time for Salute – betcha!

Next are two bases from Warner’s
Additional Regiment which have been hiding on a memory stick they’re only
posted to show the difference (if any) between the newer and older generation
of Perry figures:

Now, while I’ve got your
attention, I’d like you to have a look at the list of blogs in the column to
the left. This is obviously a matter of personal preference, but in amongst
them are blogs packed with information, tutorials, stunning pictures (yes, I
know, not like mine!) and just plain fun. There’s nothing wrong with plundering
links, it’s a noble browsing skill, so, if you haven’t already done so, have a shufty; that’s what they’re there for. I’m not going to make any special
mention, but you’ll already have some of them and others will be familiar from
the ‘magazine’ websites and forums.

A month or so ago I finally got
my pre-ordered copy of “British Army
Uniforms from 1751-1783: Including the Seven Year's War and the American War of
Independence” by Carl Franklin (Pen & Sword). I’d almost given up hope of
it ever being published (almost a year late), but finally for it for £32. I
haven’t read it properly yet (does anyone actually read a book like
that?), but it look very good and is a really nicely finished book. Naturally
I’m expecting somebody to spot a mistake here and there, but what the hell? For
information, you can now get this book for £25.60 from Amazon UK – bugger!

O.K., that’s about it for now and
probably this year if I’m honest. I’ve no plans as such for 2013 as things
stand. I’ve enough to do with the projects already in hand, but there are so
many temptations out there I think it’s going to be difficult to stay on the
straight and narrow. I’m really tempted by Stefan Gruber’s Landsknechts.
They’re superb little sculpts by Paul Hicks with bags of character. This isn’t
helped by a continuing unhealthy interest in the late medieval period which is
continually fueled by inconsiderate gamers who post photos of exceptionally
well painted Perry Wars of the Roses figures on their blogs in a variety of
disguises. I like the history, but I’m actually not over-keen on gaming the
period unless it includes a quite involved campaign which would be able to
reflect the effects the personalities on the period had on events. You’d be on
to a winner if you’re able to build in mechanisms to handle sub plots and
secret agendas such as Percy’s ambitions and to bring in characters like the
Duke of York (who really did know what he wanted?) and the poor Duke of
Clarence “false, fleeting, perjured Clarence” who made more bad decisions in a
lunchtime than most people make in a lifetime. So, unfortunately for me,
there’s plenty of food for thought. Iron Ivan Games, Impetus, Foundry medieval
rules the potential is very interesting . . . .